The heartbreaking ordeal of Maryam Hussaini-Abdullahi has thrown her family into turmoil after she was detained in Saudi Arabia over a bag of marijuana that she insists does not belong to her. Maryam, who travelled with her husband Abdullahi Baffa from Kano to Jeddah on August 7, has been in chains—her hands and legs reportedly bound—since Saudi officials linked her name to a suspicious “Ghana must go” sack.
Her husband, still in shock, described the incident as a nightmare that began as a simple journey but turned into trauma. “We only travelled with one bag each, but on arrival, our luggage was missing. Later, they associated a strange sack with her name. I know my wife is innocent,” Baffa told SaharaReporters, his voice filled with grief. He lamented that their children are stranded back home in Nigeria while their mother remains unjustly held abroad.
According to Baffa, Ethiopian Airlines admitted fault after investigations revealed that handlers and some airline staff tampered with luggage tags, attaching the strange sack to Maryam without her knowledge. “The airline confessed that baggage was added to her name. We even have video footage showing the suspects, but security agencies advised me not to share it yet,” he revealed.
Despite inconsistencies in the luggage tags discovered by Saudi security operatives, Maryam remains in custody. Her husband condemned the airline’s negligence, describing it as “unholy conduct that has destroyed our peace.” He called for justice, urging both the Nigerian and Saudi governments to ensure his wife’s freedom.
At the time of reporting, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) said they were not officially aware of her detention. Meanwhile, Baffa insists the case is now being taken over by the Nigerian government.
This is not just about one woman—it is a story of how negligence and corruption within travel systems can destroy innocent lives. Maryam’s fate now hangs in the balance as her family continues to pray for her safe return.
